Why son refused to stand

The Courier News ^ | 11/25/05 | EMS Fire Lt. Robert Bedard

[paulat]

OTOH, I taught my kids (at a very early age) to stand quietly at attention during the playing of the American National anthem when we attended MLB and NHL games when the Blue Jays and the Leafs when American teams were in town. They even stood quietly at attention for the Russian National anthem when the Ruskies were playing for the Canada cup. I do not think that lack of respect for foreign national anthems is necessarily a vitue.. So, I wouldn't raise the kid to hero status....

Cap'n...yours was the most reasonable and nicest post of the day. Thanks for posting.

Happy Thanksgiving weekend, everyone!

[brazzaville]

Good evening.
"I just have an aversion to people looking to be offended."

Aren't you are saying you find this boy and his father's actions offensive?

You are supporting an attempt to intimidate American students into bowing a knee to multiculturalism and political correctness.

I understand the Canadian taking that stand, and Melas is new to the FreeRepublic, but there is no excuse for you. Maybe the nuns are to blame

Michael Frazier

[sgtyork]

Agreed. I was stationed in Korea. I found it very emotionally stirring to hear our anthem played in tandem with the Korean anthem (ours rhythmic and triumphant, theirs flowing and melodic). I was proud to stand at attention for both anthems. But to present a foreign flag in isolation - a travesty. What is the point but to reduce our population's patriotism?

[RightOnline]

"If the father was stationed in a foreign country...would he SIT DOWN ON THE TARMAC if another country's anthem was played???!!!"

Guess you haven't been keeping up, bud.........this was NOT in a foreign country, it was NOT on a tarmac........it was in a f**king AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL, fercryinoutloud.

Use that melon, would ya???? Jesus..............

[Grut]

As the principal of the building I oversee all programs at Larkin High School including school climate, campus operations, school improvement, and student programming

A-HA! ;^)

[brazzaville]

Good evening.
You're Katherine Harris????

Impressive posture you've got there, Katherine.

Michael Frazier

[Eaker]

Bingo.

[streetpreacher]

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

The evil is having a school assembly honoring our Great friend Mexico.
We have to remind ourselves about the many times Mexico has backed the USA (zero).
1. Invaded USA.
2. Gave aid and a free rein to Germany in WWI.
3. Stole America property during the depression.
4. Gave aid and free rein to Germany and japan during WWII.
5. Still invading USA every day.

[john drake]

I'm satisfied you didn't jump to conclusions as to what end my "bullying" was intended to do.

I did further research and located the school, in Elgin, IL., and discovered further it is 38% Hispanic. The day of the incident was supposedly Mexican Independence Day, which from what I understand, has nothing to do with the 4th of July. If the Hispanic students wanted to commemorate this day, then they can do it in their own neighborhoods, or social clubs, etc. like previous ethnic groups have done in the past, with anticipation of remembering it fondly but, on the path to becoming Americans. To have the school create this situation, for either political correctness or diversity nonsense reasons, is a joke. The beauty of the American public school system in the past (before the enlightened 60's) was that it did a tremendously successful job of assimilating a wide variety of ethnic groups into becoming Americans, and identifying with America as such. This display does nothing of the sort...especially if no American flag is on display or brought into conjunction with this act. Frankly, I find it repulsive and divisive.

Intimidation is not what I had in mind; I would like to better understand via contact and debate as to what these school officials think they're promoting when they allow immigrants (or aliens, depending on their legal status) to perform these functions, during school hours and to what end?

My grandparents on one side were legal immigrants and didn't speak English and neither did my mother until entering school, with no bilingual programs. They left the Old World and its ways behind and looked forward to becoming Americans. Period. If these new groups aren't interested in pursuing that goal, then go back home. I for one don't believe you can have it both ways. Either these immigrants are here to become Americans or ...... what, guests? What makes this latest group different from all the others? That's what I'd like these school officials to tell me, however I suspect they're probably elected officials, with no spines, and therefore cater to what's
fashionable or guaranteed to get them reelected vs. what is right. No surprises there.

[paulat]

I refer everyone to #141. Mr. t is home (and...LOL!...he doesn't have any gold chains!!!).

Have to get dinner on the table! Thank heavens for leftovers!

Happy Thanksgiving weekend, everyone!

[brazzaville]

Good evening.
"But, teenagers (as well adults) have been known to do the "Right" thing but for the "Wrong" motivation."

The motivation of the school administrators is more the issue here than the boy's.

Michael Frazier

[Freedom_Fighter_2001]

More role-playing -- like the California school that requires students to be Muslims for a week or two.

"If you don't wear your burkas and say your prayers 5 times a day, heads will roll!"

[Mr. Rational]

When did a foreign country enter into this?

The kid did the right thing. This is the USA - not the USA/Mexico.

There are reasons to observe some simple formalities. There are also reasons for undermining them. The school was undermining the stature of the USA. And they knew it - that is why they were doing it.

[TankerKC]

Was this the kid who originally said he didn't stand because her feared that it would affect his ability to enlist in the military?

Oh yeah, he was.

I wonder what happened to that version of the story.

Seriously, I wonder.

[alancarp]

If they're bullying MY son when I know he's right and they're wrong, you're darn right I stand up for him. After all, to do otherwise means I'm (a) no better than they are; (b) tacitly telling my son that he's wrong; and (c) undermining the very values I must have taught him to encourage this kind of behavior in the first place.

This is SCHOOL -- it's supposed to teach the proper lessons. I personally admire the student and the parents for doing this and acting out for the proper lessons here. My family just spent about twenty minutes at our dinner table reading this letter aloud and discussing the ramifications. They're doing exaclty what I hope my kids can do someday.

So do I pick my battles? Yes. But do I number this among those worth fighting? Absolutely -- it didn't cost a bunch of money, it didn't involve jail time, it didn't lead to loss of income or a job, and it didn't involve fighting in a faraway war... heck, on that scale, if this isn't worth fighting over, then what is??

Let's train our kids to grow up to battle over things like this so that they are equipped to fight the wars and political enemies that matter to families other than our own. That's a good lesson to learn here.

< / rant>

[TankerKC]

I suggest you check in with JimRob and learn who I am.

I didn't realize that Jim provided that service. I assume that you are SOMEBODY. Do tell.

*snicker*